Low speed, high torque rotary abutment motor

ABSTRACT

An improved low speed, high torque rotary abutment motor is provided that is capable of producing ultra high pressures, while still remaining light weight an reliably efficient.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

There are no previously filed, nor currently any co-pendingapplications, anywhere in the world.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to hydraulic motors and, moreparticularly, to a low speed, high torque hydraulic motor.

2. Description of the Related Art

Hydraulic motors are actuators (like hydraulic cylinders) that simplyconvert hydraulic pressure into rotary movement. Even though theconstruction is similar motors differ from pumps in that they are““pushed”” into rotation by the already active fluid. A hydraulic motorconverts hydraulic energy into rotating motion by being pushed byhydraulic fluid. A hydraulic motor is rated by displacement, torque,speed and pressure limits. Further, they are classified as HSLT (Highspeed/Low torque), LSHT (Low speed/High torque) or Limited Rotation(Torque Actuators). Typical hydraulic motors (actually called a rotaryhydraulic actuator) use some form of surface area to receive hydraulicfluid, which cause a shaft to spin, which is connected to variousequipment driven by that hydraulic motor. The surface that is ““pushed””may be rectangular in nature, as in gear, vane and rotary abutmentmotors, or circular in nature as in rotary and axial piston motors.

However, nowhere in the art is there a teaching that is adaptable to alow speed, high torque hydraulic motor that is capable of producingultra high pressures, while still remaining light weight an reliablyefficient.

A search of the prior art did not disclose any patents that readdirectly on the claims of the instant invention; however, the followingreferences were considered related: U.S. Pat. No. Inventor Issue Date

Consequently, a need has therefore been felt for an improved but lesscomplex low speed, high torque hydraulic motor

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide animproved rotary abutment motor.

It is a feature of the present invention to provide an improved rotaryabutment motor that use a special face metal seal and Turcon-Glid Ringseals designed to hold pressure exceeding 11,600 PSI [800 BAR] whilemaintaining a low coefficient of friction −0.06-0.07, that will providea long dependable service life, excellent leakage control.

Briefly described according to the present invention, a rotary abutmentmotor is provided with:

-   -   Torque max 90,000 lb-in [10170 Nm]    -   Pressure max 10,000 PSI [690 BAR] RPM 100    -   Weight 90 lbs [41 kg]        The efficiency of this motor is assured by simplicity of design        (Just 15 parts), use special face metal seal and Turcon-Glid        Ring seals designed to hold pressure exceeding 11,600 PSI [800        BAR] while maintaining a low coefficient of friction −0.06-0.07,        that will provide a long dependable service life, excellent        leakage control.

This design offer unlimited torque to design: 200,000 lb-in [22,600 Nm]and even higher.

Advantages of the present invention include its compact size, higherreliability due to fewer parts, bidirectional operation and scalablesize and performance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The advantages and features of the present invention will become betterunderstood with reference to the following more detailed description andclaims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in whichlike elements are identified with like symbols, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a rotary abutment motor according to thepreferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a horizontal cross sectional view thereof; and

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross sectional view taken along section IV-IV ofFIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms ofits preferred embodiment, herein depicted within the Figures.

1. Detailed Description of the Figures

Referring now to FIG. 1-4, a rotary abutment type hydraulic motor,generally noted as 10, shows the preferred embodiment of the inventionhaving a housing formed of a housing top 12 and a housing bottom 14 thatserves to contain the fluid and moving parts of the motor 10. A driveshaft 16 rotatably mounted centrally within the housing supports a rotorhaving a first rotor vane 18 radially extended outward therefrom, andsymmetric to a second rotor vane 20. The drive shaft 16 provides aninput/output mechanical interconnection for the power present in therotor structure 20, and is a cylindrical member which rotates in respectto the housing 10. It is anticipated that each rotor vane is formed of apair of vane members 18 a, 18 b, mated together and having a rotor bolt22 bolted therethrough such that each vane member is firmly matedtogether about a wing seal 24. This wing seal 24 forms a seal betweenthe rotor vane 18 and the interior surface of the housing that forms thefluid passage 30, and is anticipated as being of a simple O-ring design.Additionally, a shaft seal 32 forms a face seal between the outersurface of the shaft 16 and the vane 18, 20 such as to provide increasedpressure sealing within the fluid passage 30.

The first rotor vane 18 and second rotor vane 20 form the main operativevalve for the motor. For this to occur, there is a fluid passage 30located surrounding the outer circumference of the drive shaft 16. Thisfluid passage 30 is in fluid communications with a first ports 50 and asecond port 52 for constant communication in respect thereto. The firstfluid passage 30 is interconnected by a first undercut 60 and secondundercut 62 placed on the fluid passage lower wall at the intersectionof the rotor vane 18, 20 and a first rotary abutment 70 and secondrotary abutment 72, respectively. The operation of each undercut 60, 62will be described in greater detail below.

A first rotary abutment 70 and a second rotary abutment 72 are providedas operating symmetrically. For purposes of brevity, only the detaileddescription of the first rotary abutment 70 will be provided, it beingunderstood that the second rotary abutment 72 is formed and operatessimilarly. The rotary abutment 70 is formed of a first wing 74 a and asecond wing 74 b rotatably mounted to an abutment stator 76 that ispivotally affixed about a central wing shaft 78 within the rotaryabutment 70. Each rotary abutment 70, 72 rotates in a in an overlappingconcentric fashion over the path of each rotor vane 18, 20, such thatduring impingement between the rotor vane 18,20 and the second wing 74b, the entire rotary abutment 76 will rotate in a pressure sealedmanner. As the rotor vane 18, 20 passes through the rotation path of theabutment, the first wing 74 a will seal the fluid passage 30 behind therotary vane 18, 20. In this manner, the undercut 60 can function toequilibrate the pressure about the abutment 70, thereby forcing thestator 76 to its returned position. Additionally, it is anticipated thatan urging spring 80 can communicate a return force to each wing 74 a, 74b.

2. Operation of the Preferred Embodiment

In operation, the two ports 50, 52 interconnect the motor to a source ofhigh pressure and fluid return, with the direction of rotation of themotor dependent upon which port is pressurized. (The motor can also beutilized as a pump by connecting the shaft 16 to a source of power in aknown manner.) By way of example, and not as a limitation, and inconnection with FIG. 3, as pressurized fluid enters the second port 52,it pressurizes the cavity 30, sealing the second wing 74 b of the firstrotary abutment 70 and forces the second rotary vane 20 in acounterclockwise direction until it impinges against the second wing 74b. At that orientation, the first rotary vane 18 forms the rear seal tothe pressurized portion of the chamber, and as soon as the second rotaryvane 20 passes the first port 50 the fluid is discharged therethrough.

It is anticipated that operation of the second rotary abutment 72 wouldfunction similarly should pressure be applied to the first port 50instead of the second port 52.

The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the presentinvention have been presented for purposes of illustration anddescription. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit theinvention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously manymodifications and variations are possible in light of the aboveteaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to bestexplain the principles of the invention and its practical application,to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize theinvention and various embodiments with various modifications as aresuited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scopeof the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto and theirequivalents. Therefore, the scope of the invention is to be limited onlyby the following claims.

1. A rotary abutment type hydraulic motor comprising: a housing formedof a housing top and a housing bottom that serves to contain the fluidand moving parts of the motor; an annular fluid passage formed withinsaid housing, said fluid passage located surrounding the outercircumference of a drive shaft; a first port and a second port formed bysaid housing and in fluid communications with said annular fluidpassage; a drive shaft rotatably mounted centrally within said housing;a rotor, rotatably mounted within said fluid passage and having a firstrotor vane radially extended outward from said drive shaft and symmetricto a second rotor vane; and at least one rotary abutment that rotates inan overlapping concentric fashion over the path of each rotor vane suchthat during impingement between said rotor vane and said second rotaryabutment, said entire rotary abutment will rotate in a pressure sealedmanner; wherein said first rotor vane and said second rotor vane formthe main operative valve for said motor.
 2. The hydraulic motor of claim1, wherein said rotary abutment further comprises: a first wingrotatably mounted to an abutment stator that is pivotally affixed abouta central wing shaft within the rotary abutment that seals said fluidpassage behind said rotary vane; and means to equilibrate the pressureabout said abutment, thereby forcing said abutment stator to itsreturned position.
 3. The hydraulic motor of claim 2, further comprisingan urging spring to communicate a return force to said wing.
 4. Thehydraulic motor of claim 2, further comprising a second wing similar tosaid first wing and mounted symmetrically opposite thereto on saidstator such as to allow said hydraulic motor to function in a reversefashion.
 5. The hydraulic motor of claim 1, wherein each said rotor vaneis formed of a pair of vane members mated together firmly about a wingseal, wherein said wing seal forms a seal between said rotor vane andthe interior surface of the housing that forms the fluid passage.
 6. Thehydraulic motor of claim 1, further comprising a shaft seal forming aface seal between the outer surface of the shaft and said vane such asto provide increased pressure sealing within said fluid passage.
 7. In arotary abutment type hydraulic motor having a housing formed of ahousing top and a housing bottom that serves to contain the fluid andmoving parts of the motor, an annular fluid passage formed within saidhousing located surrounding the outer circumference of a drive shaft, afirst port and a second port formed by said housing and in fluidcommunications with said annular fluid passage, and a drive shaftrotatably mounted centrally within said housing, wherein the improvementcomprises: a rotor, rotatably mounted within said fluid passage andhaving a first rotor vane radially extended outward from said driveshaft and symmetric to a second rotor vane.
 8. In the rotary abutmenttype hydraulic motor of claim 7, wherein the improvement furthercomprises at least one rotary abutment that rotates in an overlappingconcentric fashion over the path of each rotor vane.
 9. In the rotaryabutment type hydraulic motor of claim 8, wherein during impingementbetween said rotor vane and said second rotary abutment, said entirerotary abutment will rotate in a pressure sealed manner; wherein saidfirst rotor vane and said second rotor vane form the main operativevalve for said motor.
 10. In the rotary abutment type hydraulic motor ofclaim 7, wherein the improvement further comprises said rotary abutmenthaving: a first wing rotatably mounted to an abutment stator that ispivotally affixed about a central wing shaft within the rotary abutmentthat seals said fluid passage behind said rotary vane; and means toequilibrate the pressure about said abutment, thereby forcing saidabutment stator to its returned position.
 11. In the rotary abutmenttype hydraulic motor of claim 7, wherein the improvement furthercomprises each said rotor vane is formed of a pair of vane members matedtogether firmly about a wing seal, wherein said wing seal forms a sealbetween said rotor vane and the interior surface of the housing thatforms the fluid passage.
 12. the rotary abutment type hydraulic motor ofclaim 7, wherein the improvement further comprises a shaft seal forminga face seal between the outer surface of the shaft and said vane such asto provide increased pressure sealing within said fluid passage.